A device for heating objects and a method that has recourse to the device, particularly for heating and/or bending one or more glass panes positioned one on top of the other, covering each other. The device includes a furnace line, plural supports, particularly transport molds that transport and/or bend the objects, the objects being placed on the supports positioned on transport carriages, a drive device that progresses the transport carriages through the furnace line and plural heating elements provided above the objects in the furnace line. In the device the heating elements are positioned on the whole above the entire furnace line and the heating elements can be operated and regulated so as to form heating zones suited to dimensions of the objects.

A device for heating objects and a method that has recourse to the device, particularly for heating and/or bending one or more glass panes positioned one on top of the other, covering each other. The device includes a furnace line, plural supports, particularly transport molds that transport and/or bend the objects, the objects being placed on the supports positioned on transport carriages, a drive device that progresses the transport carriages through the furnace line and plural heating elements provided above the objects in the furnace line. In the device the heating elements are positioned on the whole above the entire furnace line and the heating elements can be operated and regulated so as to form heating zones suited to dimensions of the objects.

To provide a method for tempering glass to obtain tempered glass having high surface quality and a deep compression stress layer. The present invention relates to a method for tempering a glass plate comprising a preparation step of preparing a glass plate having a surface temperature of at most the strain point, an internal heating step of heating the internal temperature of the glass plate to be at least the annealing point, while maintaining the surface temperature of the glass plate within 10 minutes, or to be at most the strain point, and a cooling step of cooling the glass plate.

To provide a method for tempering glass to obtain tempered glass having high surface quality and a deep compression stress layer. The present invention relates to a method for tempering a glass plate comprising a preparation step of preparing a glass plate having a surface temperature of at most the strain point, an internal heating step of heating the internal temperature of the glass plate to be at least the annealing point, while maintaining the surface temperature of the glass plate within 10 minutes, or to be at most the strain point, and a cooling step of cooling the glass plate.

A glass heating furnace is illustrated. Rollers of the glass heating furnace are pivotally connected to a movable frame, and a roller driver of the glass heating furnace controls the rollers to rotate to a direction of an X axis, and a movable frame driver controls the movable frame to displace reciprocatively along a Y axis, such that the rollers displace along the Y axis at the same time. The glass displaces reciprocatively in multiple directions to be heated up more uniformly, which effectively reduces formation of the thermal stress marks on the glass. Since the rollers displace along the Y axis at the same time, the glass on the rollers does not have the displacement of the Y axis in respect to the rollers, such that friction of the displacement of the glass is reduced, which more effectively reduces formation of the thermal stress marks on the glass.

A glass heating furnace is illustrated. Rollers of the glass heating furnace are pivotally connected to a movable frame, and a roller driver of the glass heating furnace controls the rollers to rotate to a direction of an X axis, and a movable frame driver controls the movable frame to displace reciprocatively along a Y axis, such that the rollers displace along the Y axis at the same time. The glass displaces reciprocatively in multiple directions to be heated up more uniformly, which effectively reduces formation of the thermal stress marks on the glass. Since the rollers displace along the Y axis at the same time, the glass on the rollers does not have the displacement of the Y axis in respect to the rollers, such that friction of the displacement of the glass is reduced, which more effectively reduces formation of the thermal stress marks on the glass.

Methods and systems are provided for automated shaping of a glass sheet. The methods comprise preheating the glass, bending the glass through selective, and focused beam heating through the use of an ultra-high frequency, high-power electromagnetic wave, and computer implemented processes utilizing thermal and shape (positional) data obtained in real-time, and cooling the glass sheet to produce a glass sheet suitable for use in air and space vehicles.

Methods and systems are provided for automated shaping of a glass sheet. The methods comprise preheating the glass, bending the glass through selective, and focused beam heating through the use of an ultra-high frequency, high-power electromagnetic wave, and computer implemented processes utilizing thermal and shape (positional) data obtained in real-time, and cooling the glass sheet to produce a glass sheet suitable for use in air and space vehicles.

An article of fire rated glass and method of producing the same prepared by selecting a sheet of clear float annealed glass of at least 19 millimeters in thickness and providing the edge of the sheet substantially free of imperfections. The glass sheet is then specially tempered at a temperature of at least 575 degrees Celsius for a period of at least 750 seconds, followed by fluid quenching.

Apparatus and methods for bending thin glass sheets are described. The methods and apparatus described include positioning an auxiliary heater between a furnace and an entrance to glass bending station and/or positioning a downstream auxiliary heater between a glass bending station and a quench station. Also described are apparatus and methods for bending thin glass sheets by compensating for heat loss and maintaining the glass viscosity within a workable range for the bending or forming operation. Auxiliary heating elements can be placed in locations that would otherwise provide for excessive heat loss.